Boards & Commissions

Events Task Force – Meeting Dates (TBA)

The role of the Events Task Force will be to coordinate a balanced and diverse range of events that engages the community.

For more information please contact City Secretary Tammy Bell at 832.336.4064 or via email at tbell@cityofmanvel.com.

Planning Development and Zoning Commission 

Apply to the Planning, Development & Zoning Commission!

Purpose: To review, advise and make recommendations to the City Council on matters relating to City and extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) planning and development.

Applicants: Must be residents of the City of Manvel for at least 12 months, real property owners, and not employees of the City, and must have attended at least two consecutive PD&Z Meetings prior to being considered for appointment.

Duties: The Planning and Zoning Commission shall: Serve as an advisory body and adjunct to the City Council, and shall make recommendations regarding amendments to the Master or Comprehensive Plan, changes of zoning, zoning ordinance amendments, and zoning to be given to newly annexed areas, and other planning related matters for the physical development of the City. Approval or disapproval of plats of proposed subdivisions submitted in accordance with City ordinances as adopted or hereafter amended. Serve in an advisory capacity on any planning-related item(s) in the City and perform other duties as provided for by the City Charter.

Time Commitments: Twice per month, in the evening, if needed, usually requiring 1 to 2 hours. Additional meetings may be required infrequently to accommodate particular circumstances.

Members: Members must be residents of the City of Manvel, real property owners, and not employees of the City.

Term: All appointees to the Commission shall serve as a member of the Commission for a term of office of two (2) years. Members may be reappointed with no limitation on the number of terms one member may serve.

Meetings: Every second and fourth Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at Manvel City Hall.

Current Board Members and Terms:

Manvel Economic Development Corporation 

Apply to the Manvel Economic Development Corporation!

Purpose:  To promote economic development in the City of Manvel and to promote or develop municipal infrastructure related to the development or expansion of the business enterprise.

Duties:  Directors shall exercise ordinary business judgment in managing the affairs of the Corporation.  In acting in their official capacity as Directors of the Corporation, Directors shall act in good faith and take actions they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Corporation or which would be lawful and shall refrain from actions not in the best interest of the Corporation or which would be unlawful.  A Director shall not be liable if, in the exercise of ordinary care, the Director acts in good faith relying on written financial and legal statements provided by an accountant or attorney retained by the Corporation.

Time Commitment:  The time commitment varies somewhat, based on the projects being undertaken. Normally, one meeting per month, typically the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., in meetings of 1 to 2 hours duration (As of January 1, 2020, the board is meeting quarterly unless a project warrants an extra meeting).  Some outside reading and study will be required.

Members:   Each Director must reside within ten miles of the City of Manvel.

Zoning Board of Adjustments (ZBOA)

Creation

•    Authorized by Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 211
•    Created by City Council (Sec. 77-73 of The City Code)
•    Two-year terms for board members
•    In Manvel the board consists of five members (see Sec. 77-73(b) of The City Code)
•    Each case before the board of adjustment must be heard by at least 75 percent of the members.
•    The concurring vote of 75 percent of the members of the board is necessary to:
(1)        Reverse an order, requirement, decision, or determination of an administrative official;
(2)        Decide in favor of an applicant on a matter on which the board is required to pass under a zoning ordinance; or
(3)        Authorize a variation from the terms of a zoning ordinance.

Authority of the Board

            The ZBOA is a quasi-judicial body with authority in three specific areas (Tex. Local Gov’t Code § 211.009(a)):
1.    Appeals from administrative decisions in the enforcement of the zoning ordinance;
2.    Special exceptions as permitted by the governing body (*Note: Manvel has none); and
3.    Variances in specific cases.
4.    Other duties as assigned

Similarly, section 77-73 of The City Code echoes the state law and states:
Sec. 77-73. - Zoning board of adjustment/zoning official.
(a)        The zoning board of adjustment shall have the authority to:
(1)        Exercise the appropriate power, authority, duties, and procedures pursuant to the laws of the state, and applicable ordinances of the city.
(2)        To hear and decide where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination by the zoning official in the enforcement of these regulations. Any person may appeal a decision of the zoning official to the zoning board of adjustment as provided under state law. Such appeal shall be filed with the city secretary no later than 30 days after the date a decision is made, in writing, by the zoning official. If such person or persons fails to file such petition within the 30-day period, then the decision of the zoning official shall become final and binding.
(3)        To authorize variances from these regulations where it is determined that the granting of a variance will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of these regulations will result in unnecessary hardship, and so that the spirit of these regulations shall be observed and substantial justice done. 

Building & Standards Commission

The Building and Standards Commission was created by an ordinance adopted by Manvel City Council in 2013.    The Commission shall be composed of five members, and up to eight alternates who shall be appointed by the City Council for terms of two years.  The Commission has extraordinary powers to require property owners to remediate, repair, and/or demolish structures that are safety hazards and violate city codes.  Also, the Commission has the ability to assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day and to evict persons found on property where violations are found to exist.  The Commission provides greater due process to a property owner before the remedy of a substandard building condition is ordered.  

A commission panel may:
(1)    order the repair, within a fixed period, of buildings found to be in violation of an ordinance;
(2)    declare a building substandard in accordance with the powers granted by Ordinance 2013-O-31;
(3)    order the immediate removal of persons or property found on private property, enter on private property to secure the removal if it is determined that conditions exist on the property that constitutes a violation of an ordinance, and order action to be taken as necessary to remedy, alleviate, or remove any substandard building found to exist;
(4)    issue orders or directives to any peace officer of the state, including a sheriff or constable or the chief of police of the City, to enforce and carry out the lawful orders or directives of the commission panel;
(5)    determine the amount and duration of the civil penalty the City may recover as provided by section 54.017 of the Texas Local Government Code and this article; and
(6)    act on the City Council’s behalf in hearing and deciding cases brought to determine substandard buildings and structures pursuant to chapter 214 of the Texas Local Government Code; and,
(7) perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the City Council or by law.